It’s good to see first-time director Michael B. Jordan unapologetically putting his stylistic thumbprints on Creed III.
2015’s Creed was a dynamite reshaping of the Rocky franchise that managed to simultaneously introduce a new character and extend the life of a beloved icon. 2018’s Creed II played it safe and, while enjoyable, was less interested in moving its titular character forward as it was revisiting Rocky’s past. Thankfully, 2023’s Creed III emerges from the shadow of the Rocky character and allows Adonis Creed to be the sole focus of a film that carries his name.
This time out, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) receives a visitor from his troubled past. Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors) shows up at the Delphi Boxing Academy where Adonis now spends his time after retiring from the ring. Damian, once a promising Golden Gloves boxing champion, has spent the last 18 years in prison. Adonis and Damian were once like brothers but haven’t spoken in years. Damian expresses interest in returning to boxing even though he’s older than Adonis.
Feeling as if he owes Damian something, Adonis makes Damian a sparring partner for the current heavyweight champion who works out at Delphi. But Adonis and Damian’s shared past is clouded by the events that led Damian to go to prison. Soon, Damian not only has his eyes on the a return to the ring but fighting for the championship as well. This, of course, puts Adonis and Damian on a collision course that will end up being settled in the squared circle. And, don’t worry, I haven’t spoiled anything. That’s all included in the movie’s trailer.
As is the case with the previous entries in the series, watching Creed III requires one to accept a level of formulaic scripting. Ultimately, these films always come down to a final confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist. However, this is the first entry where the characters aren’t defined as completely good or evil. By introducing shades of grey, screenwriters Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin inject some variety into the mix. I hesitate to say that things are less predictable but at least there’s relatable emotional conflict within the minds of the “hero” as well as the “villain.” It keeps things more interesting.
Under the first-time direction of Michael B. Jordan, Creed III retools the usually straightforward fight scenes. Using close-ups, quick edits, and elements of anime, Jordan allows you to “see” what’s going through a boxer’s mind during a fight. As a result, some might find the final fight too full of obvious symbolism. I thought it was a refreshing change of pace. Those longing for the comfort of the same-old, by-the-numbers fight scene might find it jarring. I appreciated that the original Creed had some of that comfortable nostalgia but it’s not necessary for the third go around. It’s good to see Jordan unapologetically putting his stylistic thumbprints on Creed III.
Performance-wise, Michael B. Jordan reliably delivers the goods as Adonis Creed. But it is Jonathan Majors’ Damian Anderson who makes the biggest impression. Majors commands every scene in which he appears. Majors effortlessly transitions from humble, fresh-from-the-clink Damian to the ruthless, cutthroat boxer Diamond Dame Anderson. Majors has been prominently featured in three huge recent theatrical releases: Devotion, Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and now Creed III. He’s an actor to watch.
The script never explicitly addresses the absence of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky. Stallone is credited as a producer but he doesn’t appear in the movie. In the context of the story, which is about Adonis Creed’s past catching up to him, Rocky being AWOL makes sense. Ultimately, the crux of the plot is about Adonis Creed accepting the consequences of his actions. I think including the Rocky character would have either oversimplified things or needlessly complicated them. Rocky, as a character, certainly has a place in the Creed franchise but he doesn’t have to be included in every story line.
So what doesn’t work this time around? Damian’s jump from nobody to contender tries to emulate the champ vs. chump formula from the original Rocky. It even refers to that fight by name. Yet, it doesn’t feel anywhere near as natural or as logical as the classic match-up of Apollo Creed vs. Rocky Balboa. (And the reveal of how the match comes to be might be a little too subtle for those who aren’t paying enough attention.) A subplot involving Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and Adonis’ daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent,) is introduced and then disappears without any clear resolution. Neither of these are huge issues but are problematic nonetheless.
Still, Creed III manages to point the franchise in a more positive direction than the previous film. It has to be hard for writers to keep coming up with scenarios that sell the audience a worthy opponent for a rousing final fight. Thankfully, Jonathan Majors’ performance makes their work easier this time. Without him, this might not have worked anywhere near as well.
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
